Vinicius has apologized for the action that led to his sending off in the final minutes of Friday’s Valencia-Real Madrid match at the Mestalla, but he risks facing a harsh sanction that could starve him from the round of 16 match the Copa del Rey against Deportivo Minera on Monday. Furthermore, it is likely that he will be unavailable for Carlo Ancelotti during the Spanish Super Cup which will take place next week in Saudi Arabia.
The Brazilian striker from Real Madrid received a straight red card after hitting Stole Dimitrievski in the neck in the 76th minute of this turbulent encounter at the Mestalla. The ‘7’ hit the Valencia goalkeeper following a confrontation that emerged from a contact in which Vinicius requested a penalty for an alleged foul by the Macedonian. Although referee César Soto Grado initially did not consider it necessary to send off Vinicius, the VAR reviewed the incident and, after seeing it again on the monitor, the La Rioja Committee official sent the Madrid striker, who left the pitch in an angry protest as Ceballos and Rüdiger held him back to prevent his altercation with the referee from escalating.
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“Sorry and thank you team,” Vinicius wrote on his social media after seeing Real Madrid overcome their exclusion to secure a victory that propelled them to the top of the table thanks to goals from Modric and Bellingham. However, this small gesture of contrition does not exempt him from a sanction which could range from two to four matches.
The match report written by Soto Grado puts Vinicius in a difficult position. “In the 79th minute, player (7) De Oliveira Do Nascimento, Vinicius José, was sent off for the following reason: deliberately hitting an opponent in the head while the ball was not in play, using force Once sent off, the player had to be restrained by members of his club and removed to the locker room while he continued his protests,” indicates the document which will serve as the basis for determining the sanction imposed on the Brazilian.
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Vinicius, who was already sent off at the Mestalla two years ago after confronting Hugo Duro during a match during which he was subjected to racist insults—leading to three Valencia fans being sentenced to eight months in prison —will have to serve the sanction imposed in consecutive matches, regardless of the competition, as long as they are governed by the Spanish Football Federation (FEF).
As this expulsion occurred during an incident when the ball was not in play, the punishment will be a minimum of two matches, which would rule him out of the Copa match that Real Madrid will play on Monday and also of the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup which will pit the Whites against Mallorca on Thursday in Saudi Arabia. If the sanction continues, he could also miss the final of the latter tournament if Real Madrid make it, and his participation in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey would also be in danger if Carlo Ancelotti’s team lives up to expectations and eliminates Deportivo Minera on Monday.
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